Smart Bets: Cedric Burnside Project

Drummer, guitarist and vocalist Cedric Burnside inherited the blues from patriarch and legendary bluesman R.L. Burnside — in the song "R.L. Burnside," Cedric sings about how his grandfather ("Big Daddy") bought him a drum kit when he was 16. Everything he does, now and forever, is in the memory of R.L., says Cedric. A lot of what he does is tour, and his tours often bring him to Western North Carolina. That’s a long way from Holly Springs, Miss., but then again, that’s hill country and so is this, and the blues is a universal language. The Cedric Burnside Project makes two WNC stops this week: At 185 King Street in Brevard on Thursday, Nov. 14 (7 p.m., Riyen Roots also performs. $10/$15. 185kingst.com); and at Pisgah Brewing on Saturday, Nov. 16 (9 p.m., $10. pisgahbrewing.com). Image by Amanda Gresham Photography